Welcome to the latest instalment of Alexandra Eala’s blog. Aged 17, Alex has made a big impression within professional tennis having won two ITF World Tennis Tour titles. She is also a two-time Junior Grand Slam doubles champion and earlier this month was crowned US Open girls' champion. In 2022, she received funding through the ITF-administered Grand Slam Player Development Programme. Alex is writing regular pieces for the ITF, providing insight into her tennis journey. Follow her progress here.

​Being crowned US Open girls’ champion in New York earlier this month was simply magical, and it is a victory I will never forget, while nobody can ever take it away from me.

Although my focus has predominantly been on ITF World Tennis Tour events this year, a Junior Grand Slam title has always been something I’ve wanted to check off the list and now I’ve done it.

It was so special as the atmosphere at a Grand Slam is like no other and I was fortunate to have so much support from Filipinos in the stands, particularly during the final against Czech Republic’s Lucie Havlickova.

Weirdly, it was only a last-minute decision to enter the US Open Junior Championships, but I am so glad that I did, and New York will always be a city which means so much to my family.

My grandparents on my dad’s side, Frankie and Melinda, fell in love in New York in the 1980s while both were at US colleges: Frankie attended Louisiana State University, while Melinda was at Marymount Manhattan College.

My grandfather was visiting a friend in New York when he met my grandmother and the rest is history. They married in the Philippines but lived in New York for 15 years before returning to Manila.

I also have other relatives currently living in New York, so it was a really special week for me, and I was over the moon to top the podium and be able to share such a momentous moment with my family.

In the first few seconds after converting match point, I felt all the pressure and adrenaline leave my body, while for the rest of the day I was on cloud nine and I celebrated with a big dinner with my family.

I have always been proud to represent the Philippines and grateful for all the well wishes I receive from back home. As I say though, on this occasion the support was on another level. It was overwhelming and something I have never experienced before.

I was so blessed to have that volume of feeling and, in return, I am so happy and proud to have given my nation its first Grand Slam singles champion.

It has also been heart-warming to have been contacted by so many big names from back home, including Manny Pacquiao, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time.

A nation of over a hundred million people take pride in your accomplishment. My family and I salute you!

Keep being an inspiration. Work hard and stay humble. The world has yet to see more of you and what we Filipinos are capable of. Congratulations!🏆👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/M3D1r9Xn6D

— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) September 11, 2022

Manny’s words of congratulation were so meaningful to me because he is an incredible example of hard work, and I grew up watching his fights with my family. For someone like him to recognise my achievement means so much.

Among the others to congratulate me were Philippines President Bongbong Marcos, who greeted me on social media, and Rafa Nadal, whose academy of course I train at in Manacor.

But I have been genuinely amazed and touched by the number of Filipinos who have embraced my victory and, while I haven’t been back home yet because of playing commitments, I cannot wait to do so.

All that said, while my victory at the US Open is one of the most special moments of my career, I must recognise that it is in the past and I now need to continue working towards my bigger goals.

I would say that my 2022 season has been pretty good. It has not been perfect, but I am happy with the improvements so far – I am now ranked within the top 300 – although I know I can do better.

For the remainder of the campaign, I really want to focus on my ITF World Tennis Tour performance and, if possible, compete in some WTA events to test myself further. Those are my aims and ambitions from here.